leggett



(N5 Model.)

' O. H. LEGGETT;

POWDER DISTRIBUT'BR. No. 556,508. Patented Mar. 17,1896.

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ANDREW B GRAHAM. Pnom-uruuwunmmnmu c FFIGE PATENT CLINTON I I. LEGGETT, OF NEW YORIL N. Y.

PQW'DER-DIESTRIBUTE-R.

SPEGIFICA-TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,508, dated March '17, 1 896.

Application filed September 23, 1895. Serial No. 56 3,296. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON H. Lnoenrr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Powder-Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of powder-distributors used for distributing parisgreen or other powders over plants, andcomprises a blower, an air-tube, a movable powder-reservoir, and means for agitating the reservoir operated by the driving-gear of the blower.

The invention aims to provide improvements in machines of this class, of which the powder-duster shown in the patent of L. W. Turner, No. 539,102, dated May 14, 1805, may be taken as an example.

My invention provides means for insuring an effective agitation of the powder-reservoir, means for adjusting it to use with different substances, means for screening the powder before it enters the reservoir and for sifting it in advance of the discharge-valve, and means for showing the adjustment of the valve, as well as certain other features of improvement, which will be fully hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred form of my improvements, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a powder-distri-buter, partly in. section, on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, partly insection, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the reservoir, taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the drawings, let A represent the air-tube; B, the blower; 1.0, the drivinggear; D, the reservoir; E, the outlet-spout thereof; F, .the valve thereof; G, the mouth thereof; 11, the fulcrum on which the reservoir rocks; I, the point on the reservoir by which it is rocked; J, the cam or striker rocking the reservoir; K, the driving-shaft carrying this cam; L, the spur-gear on this shaft; M, the pinion meshing with this gear; N, the blower-shaft, and-O the crank-handleor other provisionfor driving the gear -L. These parts may be of any usual or suitable construction,

those shown being of well-known form and operating as usual, the reservoir being alternately tilted and freed by the cam J, whereby its forward end is raised and lowered against the top wall P of the tube A, its spout E playing loosely through the hole Q in this wall and the powder beingagitated adjacent to the valve by the dropping of the reservoir on this wall.

The valve F usually comprises a hole a through the spout E and an adjustable plunger b controlling the size of this hole and adjusted by a thumb-screw o for determining the speed of escape of the powder from the reservoir. The screw 0 is preferably fixed to the plunger 71 and screws through a nut (Z, fixedly carried .bythe reservoir D. The mouth G is preferably a funnel shaped member closed by a cap 6, which preferably screws into the screw-threaded neck f of the mouth.

According to one feature of improvement I fix rigidly to the upper-front side of the case 9 of the blower B a handle R, extending substantially radially from the shaft N within the radius of the gear L and terminating at its upper end slightly above the mouth G. This handle is inclined at approximately forty-five degrees from the plane of the tube A and is disposed over the shaft K, so that it is in advantageous position to counteract the driving thrusts applied to this shaft. I also provide a belt-hook 7L on the rear of the casing G and an .eyei just above this hook and on the side wall of the casing. I also provide a shield j, fixed to the side wall of the casing g and covering the pinion M and the adjacent teeth of the gear L in engagement therewith.

Another feature of improvement is designed to insure forcible falling of the reservoir and .prevent its accidental displacement, and comprises an elastic presser S, elastically moving the-outer end of the reservoir toward the tube when the reservoir is released :by the cam. This presser is best constructed. as a holder and presser and preferably consists of a spring or elastic member (as a rubber band) j, fastened to an eye 7c on the top of the tube A and detachably engaging a hook or equivalent provision Z on the upper part of the reservoir with such tension as is desired. The tension of the presser and holder is preferably sufiicient to cause the reservoir to move rapidly toward the tube, so that there will be a Violent jar as it strikes the latter, and it is also preferably sufficient to prevent the falling of the reservoir free from the tube in case the distributer is partly or wholly inverted. The detachable connection between the spring and hook permits use of the aparatus with or with out the spring and permits the ready removal of the reservoir through the tube.

Another feature of improvement comprises an improved indicator or gage by which the extent of opening of the Valve F can always be seen. According to this feature I extend the spout E upwardly above the top of the reservoir as a cylindrical tube m, and through its rearward side wall (preferably directly over the hole a) I construct it with a correspondin g hole 71, which is visible to the user, and I provide an auxiliary plunger 1) similar to the plunger 1; and connected to the latter to move with it, which plunger 1) is disposed within the tube on and moves opposite the hole n exactly as the plunger 1) moves opposite the hole a. Thus by noting the position of the upper plunger relatively to the hole n the position of the valve can be seen. The plungers Z) and p are preferably both formed of a single red g, which rod is formed with a groove 0', by which a large portion of its periphery is cut away below the upper plunger to present a space therebeneath opposite the hole 12, while the lower end of the rod is cut off abruptly to constitute the bottom of the plunger 1). The nut d is fixed within or on the upper end of the tube 712.

By another feature of my invention I partition the reservoir between the mouth G and valve F, dividing it into two compartments, a storage or main compartment T and a feeding or valve compartment U, which compartments I separate by a sifting partition V, through which the powder must pass before reaching the valve. Thus only sifted powder goes to the valve, and the bulk of powder is held in the body of the reservoir, so that it cannot move bodily to the valve end thereof and choke the valve. I prefer to construct the partition V as shown in the drawings, wherein it is an adjustable or variable partition, and the passage through it is contracted to form a confined space between the two chambers of the reservoir. As shown, the partition V consists of an imperforate upper wall 3, beneath which is a space 25, which is traversed by a screen it of wide and preferably wire mesh, shown as fixed in position and at the outer side of the walls, and which is also traversed at times by a screen 1*, preferably of fine quality, as perforated plate, shown as movably mounted against the rear side of the wall .9 and adjustable vertically in tracks 10. To adjust the screen v, I prefer to use a thumbscrew IV screwing through a nut 05 on the top wall of the reservoir and engaging a bracket 1 fixed to the screen. The partition V is preferably disposed at the junction between the straight side walls of the reserby the flange c of the cap 6.

voir and the inclined angular wall .2 thereof, which latter walls converge at the valve-hole a. By this feature of improvement the coarse screen alone may be used for certain materials or quality of material, the coarse and fine may be used for others, or the adjustable screen may be adjusted wholly or partly out of line with the passage '15 as the particular circumstances of use require. hen the screen r is adjusted beyond the passage t it is in line with the wall 8, and consequently has no effect on the operation of the apparatus. The screens are sufficient to insure such finely-divided condition of the substances used by the time it is passed into the valvechamber U that there will be no danger of clogging the valve, and that it will be delivered through the spout in the most suitable condition for the air-blast. The partition suffices to keep the quantity of powder in the valve-chamber sufficiently limited to insure its complete agitation with each movement of the reservoir, so that it will pass through the valve in a light and separated condition, no matter how full the main compartment of the reservoir is.

According to another feature of this invention I provide the improved strainers at the mouth of the reservoir, two preferably being used. These are an inner and an outer strainer, the inner one (lettered X) being preferably a cup-shaped strainer and having a lateral flange a at top resting on an inturn ed flange 1) on the neck f of the mouth, and the enter one being a coarser and disk-shaped strainer Y, preferably resting 011 the upper edge of the inner strainer and held thereon Either or both of these strainers may be used in filling the reservoir. Preferablyboth are used, in which case the coarsest material is strained by the strainer Y, the medium is re-strained by the strainer X, and the balance passes into the chamber T of the reservoir. The portion restrained by these two strainers, if not too great, may be left thereon, and will gradually be disintegrated during the operation of the distributer and pass into the reservoir. Either or both of these strainers may be removed according to the requirements of use, or to give access to the interior of the reservoir.

In operation the distributer will be held by the handle R and driven by the crank-handle O. The user will adjust the valve F and sieve r as desired, and connect or disconnect the presser S according to the force of agitation necessary to the particular use of the machine.

It will be seen that my invention provides improvements in powder-distributers which can be easily and advantageously availed of, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, arrangement, or combination set forth and shown as constituting the preferred form of the invention, since my improvements can be adopted according to such modifications as circumstances or the judgment of those skilled in the art may dictate, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim is- 1. In powder-distributers, a casing having.

an air-tube and blower, a driving mechanism, a movable powder-reservoir, mounted on and moving relatively to said casing, and means moving said reservoir from a normal position,

in combination with an elastic presser connected to said casing and engaging said reservoir, and elastically restoring said reservoir to its normal position after the reservoir has been moved by said means.

2. In powder-distributers, a casing having an air-tube and blower, a driving mechanism, a powder-reservoir movably mounted on said tube, and means moving said reservoir from said tube and then releasing it, in combina tion with an elastic presser S connected at one end to said tube and engaging at its other end said reservoir, said presser moving the latter, when released, violently toward said tube, and a detachable connection between said presser and one of said parts.

3. In powder-distributers, a casing having an air-tube and blower, a driving mechanism, and a vibrating powder-reservoir resting removably on said casing,vibrated by said mechanism, and feeding powder to said tube, and when vibrated tilting on a fulcrum intermediate of its ends, and a springs connected to said casing at one end, and a hook Z carried by said reservoir and detachably engaging the other end of said spring near the outer end of said reservoir, said spring holding said reservoir normally against said casing and resisting the tilting of and the removal of the reservoir when connected thereto, and permitting such removal when detached therefrom.

4. In powder-distributers, a powder-reservoir having a valve F consisting of a tube m having two apertures, the one an outlet-aperture within the reservoir and the other a similar aperture visible at the outside of the reservoir, and a rod q within said tube having a plunger end I) opposite one of said apertures, and a plunger end 19 similarly located opposite the other of said apertures, said rod movable to adjust said valve, and indicating at said visible aperture the adjustment of said valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In powder-distributers and the like, a powder-reservoir D having a vertical tube m having holes a and n, a rod q having a plunger I) opposite the hole Ct, a plunger 19 and a groove 0" opposite the hole at, a screw 0 for ad justing said rod, and a nut d carried by the upper end of said tube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In powder-distributers and the like, a powder-reservoir having a mouth and an outlet and an intermediate body portion, and having between said mouth and outlet a partition subdividing its interior into two chambers, and permitting communication between said chambers, whereby the contents of said reservoir is separated by said partition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In powder-distributers and the like, a vibrating powder-reservoir having an inlet and an outlet at different points in its body, and having intermediate of said parts and within its interior a sieve controlling communication betweeen said inlet and outlet, whereby the contents of said reservoir must traverse said sieve to pass to said outlet, and are sifted through said sieve to said outlet by the vibration of said reservoir.

8. In powder-distributers and the like, a movable powder-reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, and a movable sieve within the interior of said reservoir controlling passage of the contents thereof to said outlet, and movable toward and from an active position, whereby when said sieve is in the active position the powder is sifted through it, by the movement of said reservoir, in passing to said outlet.

9. In powder-distributers and the like, a vibrating powder-reservoir D, having a partition V in its interior comprising the sieves u and v, the one adjustable, whereby when said reservoir vibrates the powder is sifted through said partition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In powder-distributers and the like, a vibrating powder-reservoir D having an inlet and an outlet, and means vibrating it, in combination with a sieve 1; within the interior of said reservoir, controlling passage to the outlet thereof, and adjustable toward and from an active position, and a screw W adjusting said sieve, whereby the powder is sifted through said sieve by the vibration of said reservoir.

11. In powder-distributers and the like, a vibrating powder-reservoir D, having an inlet and an outlet, and means vibrating said reservoir, in combination with a cup-shaped strainer X at the inlet of said reservoir, through which the supply of powder for the reservoir passes, whereby during the vibrating of said reservoir the powder re-strained by said sieve will be sifted therethrough.

12. In powder-distributers and the like, a vibrating powder-reservoir D, having an inlet and an outlet, and means vibrating said reservoir, in combination with a disk-shaped strainer Y at the inlet of said reservoir, through which the supply of powder for the reservoir passes, whereby during the vibrating of said reservoir the powder re-strained by said sieve will be sifted therethrough.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLINTON H. LEGGETT.

Witnesses GEORGE H. FRASER, THOMAS F. WALLACE. 

